Some rhyming duos need solo projects, some don’t. That is no slight to their abilities; it is just that sometimes their sum is greater than their individual parts. Tip and Phife never sounded the same on their own, something was always missing. Of course, the difference here is that Vast Aire and Vordul only recorded one LP together before trying their hands with solo ventures. Vast’s penchant for complex poetics that always sounded so dope made him an instant candidate for a solo album from the moment “The Cold Vein” hit the galaxy. So here we are, and “Look Mom…No Hands.”
It doesn’t take long to realize that Vast sounds fresher when he has another emcee to share the mic with. He is certainly capable of handling things on his own, I just think that his voice and style benefit from the contrast of another emcee. So it isn’t surprising that many of the LP’s best cuts come with assistance. “Zenith” featuring Blueprint is certainly dope, but the zenith here is more likely the Camu Tao-assisted “KRS-Lightly” or the vintage DOOM contribution “Da Superfriendz.” Rounding out the bunch are a couple of stellar posse cuts, or one cut and one slash as it is. Aesop Rock, Poison Pen, Breeze Evahflowin, Karneige and Vast all represent nicely over a booming Beatminerz offering in what has been deemed a “Posse Slash.” Plus there is Madlib’s maniacal “Life’s Ill Pt.2” featuring Vordul and Breezly Brewin.
Vast has no trouble spreading his phoenix wingspan when he goes for self either. He heads to the iron galaxy courtesy Cryptic One and muses “Why’s Da Sky Blue” with his trademark vein; “I hear Justice was blind when Uncle Sam fucker her/I heard she came when he whispered he loved her/young and naïve she nothing of it/and respecting her he thought nothing of it/I just wanna get my point across like Jesus (hey-zus)/so I look to the sky like ‘Hey Zeus’/you got answers?/cause I got questions/fold my arms/peep the clouds and receive lessons.” The chemistry between Madlib and Vast isn’t really there on the title track, but it is still good stuff. “9 Lashes” packs some lovely Rjd2 goodness, it is just too bad it was wasted on his insipid beef with Eso. Some other standouts are “Pegasus” and “Poverty Lane 16128.”
Not everything here is worth showing to Mom dukes though. With so many different producers “Look Mom…No Hands” never really finds a groove and is really scattered. You’ve also got some production that doesn’t work with Vast. Jake One, who nearly always comes correct, lends a bit of a sleeper in “Ventiful Flow” that will have you yearning for an El-P beat. The Ayatollah produced and Sadat X featured “Elixir” is the worst of the bunch though. Vast plus some bastardized NY g-funk just doesn’t work. I guess “You Could Be” isn’t all bad with Madlib’s drums snapping so nicely, but the chorus is just wretched. So no, Vast’s solo debut isn’t flawless like his group debut, but it is a good album nevertheless. It would certainly be a better starting point for fans who couldn’t grasp El-P’s colossal production, because Vast Aire is certainly an emcee worth hearing.
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7/10
